Term
Il congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato
- You have learned that some verbs and expressions require use of the subjunctive in a dependent clause
- When the verb in the main clause is in a past tense or in the conditional, the verb in the dependent clause must be in the imperfect or past perfect subjunctive
Ex:
Pensavo che le dodici stelle dorate rappresentassero gli Stati membri dell'UE.
- I thought the twelve gold stars represented the member-states of the EU. |
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Definition
Il congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato
Ex:
Avevo creduto che gli Stati membri dell'UE avessero rinunciato alla loro autonomia politica.
- I had believed the member-states of the EU had given up their political autonomy.
Sarebbe meglio che tutti gli Stati membri dell'UE adottassero l'euro.
- It would be better that all member-states of the EU adopt the euro.
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Term
Il congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato
A. Il congiuntivo imperfetto
- The imperfect subjunctive uses the same verb stem as the imperfect indicative.
- The imperfect subjunctive is formed by dropping the -re of the infinitive and adding the endings shown, which are the same for all three conjugations.
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Definition
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Il congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato
A. Il congiuntivo imperfetto
1. The verbs bere, dire, fare, porre, trarre, and tradurre have the same irregular verb stems in the imperfect subjunctive as they od in the imperfect indicative. The verb endings are regular. Verbs based on these infinitives follow the same pattern.
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Definition
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Term
Il congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato
A. Il congiuntivo imperfetto
2. The verbs essere, dare, and stare have irregular verb stems. The verb endings are regular.
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Definition
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Term
Il congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato
A. Il congiuntivo imperfetto
3. The imperfect subjunctive is used when the action in the dependent clause takes place at the same time or after the action in the main clause.
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Definition
Il congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato
A. Il congiuntivo imperfetto
3. Ex:
Non sapevo che l'Unione in Europa si festeggiasse il 9 maggio.
- I didn't know that the Union was celebrated in Europe on May 9.
Vorrei che nel futuro tutti potessero viaggiare liberamente.
- I would like that in the future everyone could travel freely.
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Term
Il congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato
B. Il congiuntivo trapassato
- The past perfect subjunctive is used when the action in the dependent clause takes place before the action in the main clause.
- It is formed with the imperfect subjunctive of avere or essere and the past participle of the verb.
Ex:
Era meglio che loro non avessero approvato quella legge.
- It was better that they had not approved that law.
I miei genitori speravano che io fossi giá partita.
- My parents hoped that I had already left.
Avrei preferito che loro non si fossero spostati.
- I would have preferred that they had not moved.
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Definition
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Il congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato: Piú Informazione
1. When the main verb is in the present tense, the imperfect subjunctive can be used in the dependent clause to express the equivalent of used to or to describe the way someone or something was in the past.
Ex:
Penso che in passato gli europei non andassero molto d'accordo.
- I think that in the past Europeans did not get along very well.
Credo che fosse un politico francese.
- I believe he was a French politician.
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Definition
Il congiuntivo imperfetto e trapassato: Piú Informazione
2. The imperfect and past perfect subjunctive can be used in independent clauses to express regrets and wishes that will probably never be realized. These sentences are usually introduced by almeno, magari, or se.
Ex:
Almeno passassero delle leggi giuste!
- If only they passed just laws!
Se foste andati a Londra!
- If only you had gone to London!
3. After the expression come se, only the imperfect and past perfect subjunctive can be used.
Ex:
Vive come se fosse una miliardaria.
- She lives as if she were a billionaire.
Spende come se avesse vinto la lotteria.
- She spends as if she had won the lottery.
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Term
Altri usi del congiuntivo
- The subjunctive is used after some conjunctions and in clauses that follow the relative superlative.
A. Il congiuntivo con le congiunzioni
- Some conjunctions require the subjunctive in the dependent clauses they introduce.
1. Some conjunctions are followed by the subjunctive in the dependent clause even if the subjects of the two clauses are the same. |
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Definition
Altri usi del congiuntivo
A. Il congiuntivo con le congiunzioni
1.
benché, sebbene, malgrado, nonostante, quantunque - although, in spite of, even though, even if
- (Io) mi trasferiró all'estero benché (io) non abbia ancora trovato un lavoro.
--> I'm moving abroad even though I haven't found a job yet.
purché, a patto che, a condizione che - provided that, on the condition that
- (Io) mi trasferiró all'estero a patto che lui mi abbia trovato un lavoro.
--> I'm moving abroad provided that he has found me a job.
nel caso che - in case
- Porteró dei soldi nel caso non trovi subito un posto.
--> I'll bring some money in case I don't find a position immediately.
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Term
Altri usi del congiuntivo
A. Il congiuntivo con le congiunzioni
2. Other conjunctions require the subjunctive only when the subjects of the main and dependent clauses are different. If the subjects are the same, the infinitive is used.
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Definition
Altri usi del congiuntivo
A. Il congiuntivo con le congiunzioni
2.
affinché, perché, cosicché, in modo che + subjunctive - in order to, in order that, so that
- (Io) vado all'estero perché la mia famiglia abbia un tenore di vita piú alto.
--> I'm going abroad so that my family has a higher standard of living.
per + infinitive
- (Io) vado all'estero per avere un tenore di vita piú alto.
--> I'm going abroad to have a higher standard of living.
prima che + subjunctive
- (Io) gli telegoneró prima che lui parta.
--> I will call him before he leaves.
prima di + infinitive
- (Io) gli telegoneró prima di partire.
--> I will call him before leaving.
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Term
Altri usi del congiuntivo
B. Il congiuntivo dopo il superlativo relativo
- The subjunctive is frequently used in relative clauses that follow:
1. the relative superlatives il piú + adjective (the most) and il meno + adjective (the least).
Ex:
É il lavoro piú interessante che io abbia mai avuto.
- It's the most interesting job that I have ever had.
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Definition
Altri usi del congiuntivo
B. Il congiuntivo dopo il superlativo relativo
- The subjunctive is frequently used in relative clauses that follow:
2. the adjectives primo (first), solo (only), ultimo (last), and unico (only).
Ex:
É il primo viaggio che lei abbia fatto all'estero.
- It's the first trip she has taken abroad.
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Term
Altri usi del congiuntivo: Piú Informazione
1. The subjunctive is also frequently used in clauses after an absolute negative.
Ex:
Non c'é niente che lui non sappia fare.
- There is nothing he doesn't know how to do.
Non trovano nessuno che gli dia una mano.
- They can't find anyone who will give them a hand.
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Definition
Altri usi del congiuntivo: Piú Informazione
2. Dependent clauses introduced by the indefinite forms chiunque (whoever), comunque (no matter how), dovenque / ovunque (wherever), qualunque, qualsiasi (any, whatever, whichever) generally require the subjunctive, although this usage is declining in informal situations.
Ex:
Chiunque venga, non dirgli dove sono.
- Whoever comes, don't say where I am.
Ti accompagneró, dovunque tu vada.
- I'll come with you wherever you go.
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Term
Il periodo ipotetico
- A hypothetical sentence indicates what the outcome will be if a specified condition is met.
- Hypothetical sentences consist of two clauses: an if clause that specifies a condition or possibility, and a clause that indicates the outcome.
- In Italian, se introduces the condition.
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Definition
Il periodo ipotetico
A. Il periodo ipotetico con l'indicativo
- When the condition is real or possible, the indicative mood is used in the se clause and in the clause indicating the outcome.
Ex:
Se vuoi risparmiare, devi fare la spesa ai discount.
- If you want to save, you have to shop at discount markets.
Se non avevi i soldi, perché hai comprato quei vestiti firmati?
- If you didn't have the money, why did you buy those designer clothes?
Se frequenterai i mercati rionali, spenderai meno.
- If you go to the local markets, you will spend less.
Note that when the main clause is in the future tense, the se clause must also be in the future. In English, the present tense is used in similar sentences.
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Term
Il periodo ipotetico
B. Il periodo ipotetico con il congiuntivo
- When the se clause describes conditions that are not likely to occur or situations that are contrary to fact, the imperfect subjunctive is used in the se clause and the conditional is used in the result clause.
Ex:
Se avessi piú soldi, lo comprerei.
- If I had more money, I would buy it.
Se fossi in te, lo comprerei.
- If I were you, I'd buy it.
Se fosse piú ricco, lo avrebbe comprato.
- If he were richer, he would have bought it.
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Definition
Il periodo ipotetico
B. Il periodo ipotetico con il congiuntivo
- The past perfect subjunctive is used in the se clause and the past conditional in the main clause to describe situations that are contrary to fact.
Ex:
Se tu fossi andato al mercato rionale, non avresti speso tanto.
- If you had gone to the market, you would not have spent so much money.
Se i politici avessero fatto qualcosa, i commercianti non avrebbero aumentato i prezzi.
- If politicians had done something, merchants would not have raised prices.
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Term
Il periodo ipotetico: Piú Informazione
1. When the se clause is in the present, future, or a past tense, the imperative can follow in the main clause
Ex:
Se vuoi risparmiare, va' ai discount.
- If you want to save, go to the discount stores.
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Definition
Il periodo ipotetico: Piú Informazione
1. Ex:
Se andrai al mercato, telefonami!
- If you go to the market, call me!
Se hai speso tutti i soldi, dimmelo!
- If you spent all your money, tell me!
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Term
Il progressivo
- The present, future, or imperfect of stare is used with the present gerund to describe an action in progress in the present, future, or past.
Ex:
Sto andando al mercato rionale.
- I'm going to the neighborhood market.
Cosa staranno pensando?
- What must they be thinking?
Cosa stavate facendo?
- What were you doing?
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Definition
Il progressivo
- Reflexive pronouns, direct- and indirect-object pronouns, and ci and ne can either precede the conjugated form of stare or be attached to the gerund.
Ex:
Si stanno divertendo. Stanno divertendosi.
- They are having a good time.
Ci sto andando. Sto andandoci.
- I'm going there.
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Il progressivo
- The progressive construction in Italian is not as common as in English.
- In written Italian, the present, the future, and the imperfect are preferred alternatives.
1. The gerund of regular verbs is formed by adding -ando to the stem of -are verbs and -endo to the stems of -ere and -ire verbs.
Infinito Gerundio
comprare comprando
proteggere proteggendo
finire finendo
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Definition
Il progressivo
2. Some verbs form the gerund with an irregular stem obtained from an archaic form of the infinitive. Verbs based on these follow the same pattern.
bere --> bevere --> bevendo
dire --> dicere --> dicendo
fare --> facere --> facendo
condurre --> conducere --> conducendo
porre --> ponere --> ponendo
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